Well surveying device



Nov. l, 1938. w. E. wlNN WELL SURVEYING DEVICE Filed Sept. l1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nqv. 1, 1938. w. E. WINN WELL SURVEYING DEVIVCE Filed sept. 11, 1929 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. l., 1938.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICEy assignments, to Sperry-Sun Well Surveying Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1929, Serial No. 391,723

14 Claims.

vice of the type adapted to be lowered into a bore hole and arranged to give a suitable record of the orientation of the hole at a given point.

In drilling oil wells or the like, it may happen,

' due to variations in the strata through which the drill passes, or to other causes, that the bore hole will deviate to a considerable extent from the vertical and assume very decided angles relative to the vertical direction. As a result of this deviation, serious errors may ,enter into the geological interpretations and recommendations concerning subsurface structure, water shut-ois, valuations of property, etc. In view of the resultant desirability of determining the location of any or all parts of a bore hole, various devices have heretofore .been devised for determining with more or less accuracy the path of the bore hole through the soil.

One form of well surveying device which has been heretofore used involves the use of a glass bottle containing hydrofiuoric acid, which bottle is lowered into the bore hole and held for a considerable period at a desired level until the acid etohes the bottle with the production of a line at the liquid surface indicating the slope of the bor-e hole. This method is objectionable for several [reasons: a considerable time is required for a suiiicient etching action to produce a well defined line, the accurate determination of the slope -of the etched line is diicult, and the handling of the acid is both inconvenient and dangerous.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide an instrument operating in a somewhat similar manner, in that the mark of a liquid surface is indicative of the slope ofthe hole, but which permits the rapid taking of readings Without danger or inconvenience and in a manner making the determination of the slope very simple,

More specic objects of the invention, relating to features rendering the use of the device most effective, will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section of one form of the device, parts'being broken away for clearness;

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of a modiiied device;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing an auxiliary chamber; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the auxiliary chamber.

Referring rst to the modification shown in (Cl. 33-205.6)' This invention relates to a well surveying de- Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises an outer casing 2, preferably of hydraulic pipe, which forms a protective container for the more delicate portions of the mechanism, the outer casing being closed vat its top by a plug 4 and at its bottom by a plug 6 rounded, as shown, to insure smooth descent of the device on the end of a cable. Within the casing are secured four sections of pipe 8, Ill, I2, and I4 connected together by suitable couplings so as to form four chambers, and

plug which closes section 8 at the top. This plug has a cross bar in the top to which an iron hook may be attached in raising and lowering the brass column.

The uppermost chamber is formed by pipe section 8 which is connected to the top of section I Il by means of a connecting plug I6 carrying a iianged nipple I8 to which is attached a cap 58 provided with a restricted orifice. This chamber performs the function of a dye solution chamber from which the dye ows slowly through the restricted orifice 'in cap A58.

The second chamber *is formed by section Ill secured to section I2 by' a connecting plug 20 in which is supported a Siphon 22. The longer leg of this siphon extends to the bottom of the third chamber, the recording chamber, which is formed by section I2 which is secured to section I4 by a connecting plug 24. It will be noted that the shorter leg of Siphon 22 terminates a considerable distance from the bottom of chamber I0, and that the length of this leg is less than the height of chamberl I2.

A second siphon 26 is carried by plug 24, its shorter leg opening adjacent the top of the plug, and its longer leg passing through the plug and terminating in a restricted oriiice 28 arrangedv to discharge into chamber I4 the bottom of which is closed as shown at 30.

In the operation of the device, the various sections are assembled, including Within the record section I2 a record member 32 which may consist of a continuous cylinder of paper adapted to snugly t the walls of the chamber. or a sheet 0f paper wound into cylindrical form and expanded against the walls. It will be noted that this record member extends considerably above the bend of siphon 26.

Chamber 8 is filled to the proper level with an ordinary ink, or dye solution, or the like, which will produce markings upon the record member 32. While this chamber is shown as partially broken away in Fig. 1, it will be clear that it has a capacity equal at least to that of chamber I0 up to the bend of siphon 22.

Having supplied chamber 8 with ink, the sections are enclosed in the casing 2 which is then lowered to the desired depth in the bore hole and held there.

During the assembly and period of lowering, the ink will iiow through the restricted orifice in cap 58, which orifice is so designed that a predetermined interval elapses between the time when the ink is filled into chamber 8 and the time when the liquid level in chamber I0 reaches the bend in siphon 22, this interval being suffieient to permit assembly and lowering of the device to the desired depth. To secure a saving of time in taking readings, various interchangeable caps 58 may be provided corresponding to different depths and permitting a sufficient interval for lowering to such depths.

As a result of the slow flow through the orifice, the device will be at rest against the side of the bore hole, if it be sloping, at the time when the liquid level reaches the bend in siphon 22. As soon as this occurs, the liquid siphons over from chamber I0 into chamber I2 until the level in chamber I0 drops from the bend of the siphon to the lower end of the shorter leg and air is drawn into the siphon. Thereafter, if more liquid ows through plug I8, the siphon will not again operate unless the level again rises to the bend. It will be obvious that a proper size of chamber 8 will therefore insure but a single delivery of liquid to the record chamber of an almost exactly predetermined amount of ink, irrespective of the amount initially supplied to chamber 8. Since this Siphon 22 discharges rapidly as compared with the flow through plug I8, the amount supplied to the record chamber will be only a little in excess of the volume of chamber I0 between the lower end of the short leg and the bend of the Siphon.

The restricted opening 28 of Siphon 26 renders its rate of discharge considerably lower than that of siphon 22. Accordingly, While discharge from chamber I2 will take place as soon as the level of ink reaches the bend of Siphon 26, the incoming flow is more rapid so that the ink reaches a level above the bend of the Siphon momentarily; and then, as soon as flow into chamber I2 ceases, it is drained of liquid by siphon 26, the discharge passing into chamber I4, which is of sufficient capacity to hold it.

If, now, the bore hole deviates from the vertical, the position of the surface of the ink at its highest level will be clearly marked on the record member 32 as indicated at 34, the produced mark being the trace of the intersection of a horizontal plane with the inclined cylindrical surface. The angle of inclination may be thus directly measured at the points of iniiection of the wavy trace resulting when the record member is developed into a plane. This measurement may be facilitated by using cross-section paper for the record member.

Equalization ofpressure in the device is insured by holes in the upper ends of the chambers as shown in the figures.

By reason of the fact that record chamber I2 is substantially emptied of liquid immediately after the making of a record, and since excess and overflow liquid is confined in chambers I0 and I4, rough handling of the apparatus during withdrawal from the bore hole will not affect the l' record.

The disclosed apparatus is adapted to provide a single record only; but it will be obvious that a number of records may be readily secured by a simple extension of the device. That is, the discharge receiving chamber I4 of the first series,

such as that described, may be made the supply chamber of a second series by providing it with a restricted discharge orifice arranged to discharge into a siphon chamber similar to I0 which will in turn discharge into a second record chamber. In this manner any convenient or desirable number of series may be arranged for the production of the same number of records, it being necessary only to hold the apparatus at different predetermined levels for definite lengths of time to secure the desired records.

While the time of operation of the device above described may be deferred for a period sufficient to permit its location at the proper depth, it is impractical to defer its recording action by means of a calibrated orifice for very considerable periods. It is, for example, sometimes desirable to secure the device in a rotary drill stem so as to obtain a record of the slope of the bore hole at the end of a drilling operation, or, in other words, at a time long subsequent to the time the apparatus enters the bore hole.

In order to defer the recording in such case, the section indicated at 36 is substituted for sec` tion I0 between sections 8 and I2. In this modification, a tube 38 communicates with the bottom of chamber 8 and discharges into an opening 40 in a valve body 42, the other end of which opening communicates with a tube 44 extending to the bottom of chamber I2 similarly to the longer leg of Siphon 22. Opening 40 is normally closed by a plug 46, extending across it, which plug is carried by a spindle 48 carrying a'paddle 52 at its lower end and threaded as at 50 through the cover of a chamber 54 containing a quantity of mercury 56 in which the paddle 52 is submerged.

If the series ofy chambers 8, 36, I2 and I4 are now secured in a drill stem rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, the threads of stem 50 being right-handed, the entire assembly moves as a unit, rotation being imparted to the mercury. If the drill stem is now stopped, the mercury will continue to rotate carrying around paddle 52 and rotating stem 5|! to withdraw plug 46 from its position across opening 40. Thereupon, the ink will flow from chamber 8 through tubes 38 and 44 into chamber I2 and a record will be made as described in connection with the preceding modification.

It may be no'ted that the device is capable of use in several manners. It may be lowered into the bore hole on the end of a cable, being carried in its protective casing 2. Or it may be included in a drill stem inthe manner already described. By reason of its small diameter, it is also found convenient to lower it on a cable within the drill stem so that readings may be taken very conveniently without removing the drill, it being only necessary to stop the drill during the short period when a reading is being taken in order to avoid disturbance of the liquid. 'I'he instrument may then be withdrawn and the drilling continued.

The apparatus described above will give only the inclination of the bore hole without giving the direction of the inclination. To obtain the orientation of the hole simultaneously with its inclination, the chamber 62, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, may be located between chambers I2 and I4 so as to receive the discharge from siphon 26 and in turn discharge, through a plug 64 having a restricted l orifice, into chamber I4. The orifice through plug 64 is so small that the discharge Vtherethrough is slower than the flow 74 through the end 28 of siphon 26. As a result of the accumulation of liquid within the chamber, a hollow brass' Weight 66 is caused to float releasing the outer end of a compass protector lever 68 to which it is connected by a exible cord or Wire, and thereby permitting the needle 'l0 to settle upon its pivot so as to be free to turn into a N.-'S. position. When the liquid falls, the weight will cause the inner forked end of lever 68 to raise the needle from its pivot and clamp it against glass plate in the position which it assumed when turning freely. Upon opening the apparatus the position of the needle will, of course, indicate the orientation of the column, suitable markings being provided on the chambers to indicate their relationship during a reading. 'Ihe box 12 carrying the compass is Weighted as indicated at 'I4 and is supported by gimbals I6 and 18 so that the compass will remain horizontal irrespective of the inclination of the casing. When the compass is used, the portions of the apparatus adjacent thereto are made of non-magnetic material to insure true readings. The chamber 62 and its accompanying parts may be used in a column containing either chamber I0 or chamber 36. Obviously, the compass and its associated parts might be included in chamber I0 or even the record chamber and be actuated by rise of liquid therein.

It will be understood that numerous other changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of liquid, a record chamber containing a surface adapted to be marked by the liquid, means for controlling flow of liquid from the iirst mentioned chamber into the record chamber, andmeans for indicating the orientation of the device when a record is made, said means including a compass rendered free to rotate by action of the liquid and subsequently held in its assumed position.

2. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of liquid, a record chamber containing a surface adapted to be marked by the liquid, and means for controlling ow of liquid from the rst mentioned chamber into the record chamber, said means including an intermediate chamber, a restricted orifice for controlling flow from the supply chamber into the intermediate chamber, the flow being thereby restricted to a predetermined degree, and a siphon arranged to automatically discharge liquid from the intermediate chamber into the record chamber when the liquid in the intermediate chamber has risen to the bend of the siphon, said bend of the siphon and oriiice being so arranged that a predetermined time elapses between initiation of flow through the orice and discharge through said Siphon.

3. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply `of liquid, a record chamber containing a surface adapted to be marked by the liquid, and means for controlling ilow of liquid from the rst mentioned chamber into the record chamber, said means including an intermediate chamber, means for effecting flow from the supply chamber into the intermediate chamber, said means restricting said ilw to a predetermined charge liquid from the intermediate chamber into the record chamber when the liquid in the in termediate chamber has risen to the bend of the siphon, said bend of the siphon and flow restricting means being so arranged that a predetermined time elapses between initiation of flow through said restricting means and discharge through said siphon, said restricting means effecting continued ow after the discharge of the siphon, the amount of liquid used being such that the ow after discharge ,of the siphon is insufficient to cause the level of liquid in the intermediate chamber to again rise to the bend of the siphon.

4. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of liquid,'a record chamber containing a surface adapted to be marked by the liquid, means for controlling flow of liquid from the rst mentioned chamber into the record chamber, and means for indicating the orientation of the device when a record is made, the operation of said indicating means being controlled by the liquid.

5. A device for recording inclination of a well bore, comprising a casing, a reservoir therein for holding a record making liquid, a chamber in which a record is to be made, means continuously 0pen` during the descent of the device into the well bore. for timing the transfer of said liquid from said reservoir to said chamber, whereby `a record may be made of the deviation of the bore at any point of its depth.

6. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole `including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of liquid, a second chamber, means for controlling iiow of liquid from the rst mentioned chamber into the second chamber, and means for indicating the orientation of the device when said liquid is in the second chamber, the operation of said indicating' means being dependent upon ow of the liquid.

'7. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of liquid, a second chamber, means for controlling flow of liquid from the first mentioned chamber into the second chamber, Aand means for indicating the orientation of the device when said liquid is in the second chamber, said means including a compass held in a freely assumed position by action of the liquid.

8. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a casing, a reservoir therein for holding a record making liquid, a chamber in which a record is to be made, and means continuously open during the descent of the device into the well bore for timing the transfer of said liquid from said reservoir to said chamber, whereby a record may be made of the deviation of the bore at any point of its depth, said means 'including an intermediate chamber, means for effecting flow from the reservoir into the intermediate chamber, said means restricting said iiow to a predetermined degree, a siphon arranged to automatically discharge liquid from atV the intermediate chamber into the record chammeans and discharge through said siphon.

9. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a casing, a reservoir therein for holding a record making liquid, a chamber in which a record is to be made, and means continuously open during the descent of the device into the well bore for timing the transfer of said liquid from said reservoir to said chamber, whereby a record may be made of the deviation of the bore at any point of its depth, said means including an intermediate chamber, means for effecting flow from the reservoir into the intermediate chamber, said means restricting said ow to a predetermined degree, a siphon arranged to automatically discharge liquid from the intermediate chamber into the record chamber when the liquid in the intermediatechamber has risen to the bend of the Siphon, said bend of the siphon 'and flow restricting means being so arranged that a predetermined time elapses be tween initiation of ilow through said restricting means and discharge through said Siphon, said restricting means effecting continued ilow after the discharge of the siphon, the amount of liquid used being such that the ilow after discharge -of the siphon is insuilicient to cause the level of liquid in the intermediate chamber to again rise to the bend of the siphon.

l0. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to cona record is to be made, and means continuously open during the descent of the device into the well bore for controlling flow of liquid from the first mentioned chamber, said means including an intermediate chamber, a flow restricting means for controlling ilow from the supply chamber into the intermediate chamber, the ilow being thereby restricted to a predetermined degree, and a siphon arranged to automatically discharge liquid from the intermediate chamber into the record chamber when the liquid in the intermediate chamber has risen to the bend of the siphon, said bend of the siphon and flow restricting means being so arranged that a predetermined time elapses between initiation of flow through the flow restricting means and discharge through said siphon.

11. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of record making liquid, a record chamber in which a record is to be made, and means continuously open during the descent of 50 the device into a bore hole for controlling flow of liquid from the rst mentioned chamber into the record chamber, said means serving to delay the entrance of liquid into the record chamber for a determinable period.

l2. A well surveying device adapted to enter a bore hole including a chamber adapted to contain a supply of record making liquid, a record chamber in which a record is to be made, an intermediate chamber, means continuously open during the descent of the device into a bore hole for controlling a slow Ilow of `liquid from the supply chamber into the intermediate chamber, and means for rapidly discharging liquid from the intermediate chamber into the record chamber.

13. Apparatus for measuring the angle of inclination of a bore hole, comprising a recording surface, a container adapted to hold a body of liquid in position to contact with the recording surface, and means, including a reservoir, for supplying liquid to the container, the liquidsupplying means including a restricted passage through which liquid can flow from the reservoir to` the container, the said passage being adapted to be continuously open during the lowering of the apparatus to the level at which the record is to be made, but being sufficiently restricted that tain a supply of liquid, a record chamber in which` the liquid flowing through it from the reservoir will not reach its recording position in the container until aftervthe apparatus has been lowered to said level in the bore hole.

14. Apparatus for measuring the angle of inclination of a bore hole, comprising a recording surface, a container adapted to hold a body of liquid in position to contact with the recording surface, means, including a reservoir, for supplying liquid to the container, the liquid-supplying means including a restricted passage through which liquid can ilow from the reservoir to the container, the said passage being adapted to be continuously open during the lowering of the apparatus to the level at which the record is to be made, but being suilciently restricted that the liquid flowing through it from the reservoir will not reach its recording position in the container until after the apparatus has been lowered to said level in the bore hole, and means for lowering the surface of the liquid in the container after said liquid has reached its recording position.

WII.J.|IAME.WINN. 

